Disclaimer: I own nothing! This is based on J. K. Rowlings ideas, my imagination doesn't stretch that far.
- Chapter Three -
The sorting
Rohenna reluctantly left the Room of Requirements; it was the first of September and the new year was fast approaching. She hadn't seen Maisy in a few days, so made a mental note to find her after the sorting. Every couple of days so far Rohenna had listened to a second by second account of life in the kitchens, well, at least she was enjoying it at Hogwarts.
But Maisy wasn't the only one to try her best at settling in, Rohenna had taken it upon herself to explore the castle thoroughly; determined not to be of any disadvantage. She could now pass as a 6th year, even down to the teachers and subjects! All that was left was a group of friends, but Rohenna reluctantly pushed this thought away every time it crept forwards; there was a war going on!
Professor Dumbledore had been kind to her over the past four weeks, even two weeks ago. He had said not to worry, despite Rohenna's concerns. And Maisy had been there for her, but thinking about it: when hadn't she?
She enjoyed the silence as she walked down the corridors towards the Great Hall, knowing full well that it'd be the last time in a while. Saint Kristina's was almost always empty, but oddly she welcomed the change. It might be nice to be around so many others.
"Ahh! Miss Rose, I see you're all set. Anyway, must hurry; the first years are almost upon us." Professor Dumbledore said cheerfully before disappearing as quickly as he'd appeared. Such an odd wizard, brilliant but odd.
Minutes later Rohenna reached the bottom of the stairway nearest the Great Hall, and stopped. A brief moment later Professor McGonagall crept in, holding the door as tightly shut as she could as she wiggled through. Almost as if to stop the stampede of excited first years.
"Miss Rose." She nodded and pocked her head through the Great Halls huge wooden doors, she must have given some signal because all the teachers on the front bench turned to look and four tables packed with second years upwards started murmuring expectantly. The door clicked shut again and Rohenna's stomach lurched, she'd have to face all them!
The first years must have realised the same thing, as when the doors opened and Professor McGonagall led them towards the Great Hall many fell behind and pushed friends forwards. There was a few hasty shoving then silence as the doors opened revealing a hall too grand to be allowed! It was the one place Rohenna hadn't been permitted to explore and it took her breath away, the ceiling must have been bewitched to look like the sky as she could clearly see the approaching night fall. Hundreds of candles lined the walls, and great wooden statues guarded the outer walls.
But then much to Rohenna's displeasure the line of first years thinned and it was her turn to follow suit. Being must taller than the others she could clearly see every head that turned to look at her curiously, and it wasn't an enjoyable experience.
Then the line stopped, they'd reached the front of the hall. There was a hat waiting on a stool before them but this time Rohenna didn't share the first years wonder; Professor Dumbledore had already explained the procedure.
The hat broke into a song but Rohenna wasn't listening, she had her eyes on a red-head sat half way back on the table to her left. Lily. Beside her another girl sat staring intently at the first years, and opposite another girl was chatting quietly to a boy beside her. Rohenna recognised him too; he'd approached Lily in Diagon Alley.
"Brown, Ada." McGonagall called and a nervous looking witch stepped forwards, and sat on the stool. As the hat was lowered onto her head the colour visibly drained from her face.
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted cheerfully and the girl got up, looking very relived. Rohenna watched her make her way to the table where they applauded, she went a joined an older looking girl who hugged her tightly.
The group of first years before her slowly decreased, and as everyone was greeted happily by which ever table they were sent, Rohenna became more nervous. Was she the only one who didn't know anyone?
"Rose, Rohenna." McGonagall called, as she looked up at the remaining student. After briefly considering running Rohenna stepped forwards onto the stool. It was worse from here. You could see every pair of eyes watch you, waiting. Each table visibly deciding if they wanted you. The hat decided to prolong her pain and sit quietly, did it not know where to put her? Then a though occurred to her, she didn't know the tables! In her waiting she'd forgotten to watch where the first years went to each house. She couldn't even remember the names and colours, so the flags weren't helpful.
"Gryffindor!" it shouted at last, and as a table of students cheered it wasn't difficult to find the right table. With nowhere else spare she was forced to sit awkwardly between first years who were more than a head shorter than her. Professor Dumbledore gave a speech and then the meal began. Rohenna eyed the food hungrily, the embarrassment of the seating arrangements and the sorting temporally forgotten - that could wait till later.
After the feast prefects were instructed to lead the first years out the halls, and as Rohenna didn't know where any of the common rooms where she was forced to follow. But purposely kept a few feet behind, treating them like an annoyance rather than a guide.
She'd briefly joined eyes with Lily who smiled and began to make her way over, but a stream of third years made any further contact impossible so Rohenna left it. The stairs, she noted, were tiresome and plenty of them. Trust me to get the house with the most stair work. She'd heard from Maisy that one house's common room was in the dungeons, at the time it's seemed vile but now, now she'd take it.
"The password is Hopping Hippogriff, it'll change this time next week." A prefect informed the first years, who honestly looked like a group of tourists. The painting guarding the common room swung open at the words, revealing a cosy decorated room with a fire place and four sofas surrounding a warm looking rug. On one wall a bookcase stood, piled high with more books than Rohenna had ever seen, she'd be going to them later. And along the back wall two staircases led off, the dormitories she guessed.
As it was getting late Rohenna didn't linger in the common room but asked to be led to her room, inside she discovered she'd be sharing with three other girls whose belongs where already thrown on each bed. Leaving only one, by the window. The moon outside shone in its half-moon form, it was beautiful really. Harmless.